• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three soldiers and a government militiaman, who were injured in a clash with remnants of the dismantled New People’s Army Northern Negros Front in Escalante City last week, received the Wounded Personnel Medal from the Philippine Army.
Col. Victor Llapitan, deputy commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB), awarded the medal on each of the injured troopers at a private hospital in Bacolod City on Feb. 23.
The recipients were 2nd Lt. Frenzy Jarey Gonzales, Privates First Class Jiesard Mesina and Sandie Cabayle as well as CAFGU Active Auxiliary member Eduardo Linogon.
Maj. Mervin Rosal, 303IB civil-military operations chief, said the four troopers were honored for their heroic and exemplary efforts during the series of encounters that took place in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan on Feb. 21 and 22.
“The medal symbolizes the bravery of our soldiers in facing our common enemy, the communist NPA terrorists. I salute each and every one of them for their selfless service and dedication in serving the people and protecting the peace in Negros,” Llapitan said in a statement.
The series of encounters also led to the death of three suspected rebels identified as Emaren Pastidio, Michael Cabahug and Jose Caramihan, and the recovery of several high-powered firearms and explosives.
The cadavers of the slain rebels were retrieved from the encounter site by 79IB soldiers and police scene of the crime operatives and turned over to the Pinapugasan barangay chairman Edgar Rafana, in the presence of San Carlos Diocese Bishop Gerardo Alminaza and Fr. Wilfredo Bayohin.
Pastidio and Cabahug were both recruited by the NPA when they were still minors while Caramihan was a member of a volunteer anti-crime group. | GB
